According to this the my CPU temperature should not exceed 62C, however when stress testing (using OCCT) my temps go up to 86 degrees (I configured OCCT to stop the test if 85 degrees was exceeded). I'm using a stock cooler on default clocks.

Should I worry? I didn't notice any system instability at all during the test.

Having an error with my new laptop. To put it in short, I can't hold any button on the keyboard and click at the same time, which is making it impossible to play virtually any game. I tried looking it up, but I couldn't find any results.

For example, in Garry's Mod, I can't spawn anything. I open the spawn menu, and clicking on any icon does nothing, because I'm holding down the Q key. When I edited the console to make the spawn menu toggleable, I was able to spawn props, because I wasn't doing anything but clicking. Does anyone know if there's some kind of driver option that allows me to hold buttons and click at the same time?

I'm out shopping for electronics. I want to have a small Netbook that I can use for school. Word processing, internet browsing, and at most a couple of emulators for games. My price range is $200-$250. Is it worth getting a Netbook or should I just get a Nexus 7 tablet and use that with a Bluetooth keyboard?

I'm out shopping for electronics. I want to have a small Netbook that I can use for school. Word processing, internet browsing, and at most a couple of emulators for games. My price range is $200-$250. Is it worth getting a Netbook or should I just get a Nexus 7 tablet and use that with a Bluetooth keyboard?

I would say a netbook is better for word processing. But it depends. If you already own a copy of Microsoft Office for PC and you like it, then definitely get a netbook.

With a netbook I would be totally fine with LibreOffice, but I'm not sure if there are any good netbooks in the $200-$300 range. At the same time, I don't know of any good word processors for Android that are free.

Why does v-sync force mouse acceleration anyway? I remember BRT explaining a while back but I can't remember, it completely ruins it for me.

It's not acceleration, it's that generally double buffered Vsync allows for like 2-3 frames of delay before the image is shown. Triple Buffering generally helps this along with keeping the FPS from cutting in half like 60 to 30 to 15, etc.

Are there any significant differences in performance using a different number of RAM modules? E.g. if I were to buy 8 GB of memory, I could do so with a single 8 GB stick, two 4 GB sticks, or four 2 GB sticks. Would any of those options be better than the others?

Are there any significant differences in performance using a different number of RAM modules? E.g. if I were to buy 8 GB of memory, I could do so with a single 8 GB stick, two 4 GB sticks, or four 2 GB sticks. Would any of those options be better than the others?

Are there any significant differences in performance using a different number of RAM modules? E.g. if I were to buy 8 GB of memory, I could do so with a single 8 GB stick, two 4 GB sticks, or four 2 GB sticks. Would any of those options be better than the others?

If you have a multi-channel memory controller (you almost definitely do), you may get a *slight* performance increase from doing more sticks. However, that's often so small as to be undetectable even by testing.

I would recommend getting 1x8gb if it's the same price as 2x4gb, simply because you'll be able to upgrade more cleanly. But if 2x4gb is cheapest (and it likely is), go with that, because honestly, the performance differences are that small.

If you have a multi-channel memory controller (you almost definitely do), you may get a *slight* performance increase from doing more sticks. However, that's often so small as to be undetectable even by testing.

I would recommend getting 1x8gb if it's the same price as 2x4gb, simply because you'll be able to upgrade more cleanly. But if 2x4gb is cheapest (and it likely is), go with that, because honestly, the performance differences are that small.

Looks like it's gonna be 2x4GB then.

Bit of a post-question question: I'm looking at two 8GB sets of Mushkin memory on Newegg. One has their wavy-style heat spreader, and the other has the ridge-style heatspreader. Identical specs, identical price. Is there going to be any sort of difference there, or is it just a styling choice?

Well, it depends what you mean by "good". The Acer Aspire One is decent, and most models are less than $300 (but you only get 1 GB RAM).

This might be an ideal solution. When I meant "good," I mostly meant "good build quality," or more to the point, "won't explode." 1 GB RAM should probably be enough to hold me over. In all likelihood, I would wipe it and stick some Linux distro on it. Again, I only plan on using it for word processing, web browsing, and emulation of simple things like Game Boy games, so I don't need a super duper gaming netbook.

Bit of a post-question question: I'm looking at two 8GB sets of Mushkin memory on Newegg. One has their wavy-style heat spreader, and the other has the ridge-style heatspreader. Identical specs, identical price. Is there going to be any sort of difference there, or is it just a styling choice?

It's largely aesthetic. In practice it really shouldn't make a difference.

is sli supported well in most games? i'm considering getting another one of the same graphics card i have now (gtx 550 ti) and putting them in sli, either that or getting a gtx 570/580 instead

Nowadays few games don't support SLI. Only a few I currently play don't support it. Such as RAGE, Minecraft, and a few other games. But you can pretty much buy a game and assume it will support SLI pretty well now.

What's an easy and cost free way to stop my CPU from idling at near 90° celsius

Can you not afford thermal compound? You could use Petroleum Jelly if you need to. Mix it with some toothpaste. I could send you some if you'd like.
(Thermal Compound, not Vasoline. Who knows what you'd be doing with that.)

I want to update my graphics card due to the proposed release of several new games (Most namely Rome II: Total War) and I was wondering where it is best to go from my current card.

Right now I am using an AMD Radeon HD 6870 card, which is apparently pretty good. But I fear by next year it will be obsolete. What is a card that isn't too expensive that I can upgrade too?

If it's just for Rome, then don't upgrade. Do it closer to its release, your card might (probably) will be able to run it at max at 1080p.
Also, nearer its release date there will be lower costs for the same performance.

Also, I was just wondering. Is there any difference between SATA connections on different PSU's? Or is there just a standard and SATA means SATA? Because I saw some specify "5 pin SATA" or something. Do I need to worry about getting the right SATA power connectors? Or do I not need to worry?